Tine ITALIAN BEE, 
325 
and also more frequently. Captain Baldenstcin’s want ot success 
was most probably the result of a deficiency of drone-comb* in bis 
Italian hives, as a consequence of which, only few drones were 
produced.’ 
*■ The main thing to be attended to in any localities where 
common bees are found or kept, is to secure the production of 
drones in numbers overwhelmingly large; though Dzierzon is 
under the impression, that where both kinds of drones exist in 
about equal numbers, the Italian queens will usually encounter 
Italian drones, both queens and drones being more active and 
agile than the common kind. Besides, the wings of both queens 
and drones are finer and more delicate than those of the common 
kind, and the sounds produced in flying are clearer and higher- 
toned. Hence, probably, they are readily able to distinguish each 
other when on the wing.f 
“ The Baron of Berlepsch, one of the most enthusiastic and 
skillful Apiarians, on a large scale, in Germany, says he can. from 
his own experience confirm the statements of Dzierzon, in relation 
to the Italian bee, having found, 
♦ “Dzierzon guarded against this, by giving to a very largo colony, which ordi- 
narily produced drones In great numbers, a fertile queen very early in the season. 
Thousands of drones soon mado their appearance, and ho immediately formed an 
artificial colony by removing this queen, with a sufliciont number of workors, 
adding worker-brood from other colonies. On the twelfth day following, ho heard 
a young queen 4 teetinq ’ in the parent hlvo and, to his surprise, a largo swarm 
issued from it on the same day, though the weather was then cool and cloudy. This 
swarm came forth suddenly, without any previous indication of its intention, just 
as after-swarms usually do. On a similar day, Dzierzon says, he had never seen a 
first swarm of common bees leavo. 80 cold was the weather, that somo of the bees 
became chilled before the swarm was hived. As the swarm was unusuhlly large, 
he divided it into two, as he was able to procure an additional queen from tho 
parent hive. Both throvo well, and each of tho queens was impregnated by an 
Italian drone. From this occurrence, ho Judged that these bees have an instinctive 
proclivity to swarm early. Our common kind would have lingered long, rather 
than 4 swarm in weather so cold and cloudy.’ 8. W agnbr. 
t 44 If, at tho tlmo when young quoens are emerging, tho bees and drones be 
tempted to sally out earlier than usual in the day, hours before the common drones 
como forth, by feeding them with diluted honey, the perpetuation of the genuine 
Dreed will tho more probably be sccurod. But this end will the most certainly be 
attained, if measures aro taken to have Italian queens and drones bred early in tho 
season, before tho common drones mnko their appearance ; and again late, after tho 
latter hnvo been 4 killed off.’ This may readily be done by tho improved hivo, and 
the application of certain known principles in bee-culture.” — 8. Wagnku. 
